Political Philosophy for Laura Malakoff

Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Hope School District

The three most important issues in the Hope District School Board race :

Academic Excellence

The most important job of a School Board member, and my highest priority, is to help provide an academically challenging environment for every child in the District. School Board members do not and should not make classroom decisions, but they should focus on providing resources and leadership for the teachers and staff of our schools.

• Support teachers' efforts to strengthen the curriculum
• Advocate reduced class size for all grades
• Support a tutoring program for children who need assistance
• Advocate additional resources for "underperforming" children
• Support an after-school homework program
• Support the hiring of the highest caliber teachers and administrators

The District has grown gradually over the last several years and to accommodate that growth a Bond measure was passed and a closed school was reopened. At the same time, the State's initiative to reduce the size of classes has increased the need for new classrooms to the point where the District is again nearing capacity. Demographic changes, including a very large number of planned housing developments within the District (St. Vincent's, Bridle Ridge, and along La Cumbre) and new homes currently under construction, will add substantial numbers of additional children to our three schools. Action needs to be taken at this critical time to accommodate the growing number of children, while maintaining the District's financial health and academic standards. While it is inappropriate for the School Board to take a position on the developments themselves, it is advisable to negotiate with project developers to address potential effects on our schools. Although the Hope District was successful several years ago in gaining passage of a bond, it may be difficult to return so soon to the voters for additional bond authority.

• Improve forecasting of future enrollment.
• Address current growth with existing funds. For example, the following could be considered:
  --Use the remaining part of the bond measure money for classrooms.
  --Continue to negotiate with developers, the City, and the County for mitigation.
  --Look for ways to purchase the County owned part of Hope School property for expansion.
  --Evaluate the opportunities to use District owned land west of Hope School
  --As a fourth school may be necessary in the future, a search for a suitable property should begin soon.
• Establish an aggressive campaign to reduce operating costs by minimizing waste generation and promoting energy efficiency.

In the past, significant numbers of parents have become involved in School Board activities only when controversial issues, such as school boundary changes come to their attention. And yet, one thing that makes the District special is the level of parental involvement in fundraising, PTA activities, and help in the three schools' classrooms. Parents in the District have a great deal to offer and their talents could be better used by the District.

• Reinstate the budget committee to provide additional guidance to the Board.
• Recommend that a parent/teacher committee examine the school lunch program.
• Reestablish the parent-led "Safe Routes to Hope Committee" as a safe transportation committee for all schools in the District.
• Provide parents with greater access to information about issues facing the School Board.